Cross-examination at trial is controlled by Fed. R. Evid. 611(b):Cross examination should be limited to the subject matter of directexamination in matters affecting the credibility of the witness. Thecourt may, in the exercise of discretion, permit inquiry intoadditional matters as if on direct examination.The federal rule limits the scope of cross-examination to the subject matter of direct and matters affecting the credibility of the witness. By contrast, in state court,Tennessee follows the “wide open” rule of cross-examination:A witness may be cross-examined on any matter relevant toany issue in the case, including credibility, except as providedin paragraph (d) of this rule.Tennessee Rule of Evidence 611(d), the “adverse witness rule,” provides:When a party in a civil action calls an adverse party (or anofficer, director or managing agent of a public or privatecorporation or of a partnership, association or individualproprietorship, which is an adverse party), interrogation, ondirect examination, may be by leading questions. The scopeof cross-examination under this paragraph shall be limited tothe subject matter of direct and cross-examination may be byleading questions.Thus, when a party is called under the adverse witness rule, direct examinationproceeds as if it is really cross-examination with the questioner asking leadingquestions. When the adverse witness is being crossed, the scope is limited to thesubject matter of direct and cross-examination “may be by leading questions.”

In short, the rules of evidence provide for a right to conduct cross-examinationof a witness and give the opportunity to frame leading questions to facilitate theexamination.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE ADVOCATE IN CROSS-EXAMINATION?

Cross-examination is literally confronting the opposing witness. It is a way totest, inspect and examine what the other side is really saying. Cross-examination begins in discovery with a plan for each witness. Usually depositions are the methods by which trial lawyers explore areas of testimony. The jury will be judging you as theattorney during the cross-examination. The jury will watch you closely as to how youproduce evidence during cross-examination and whether you are courteous andrespectful to the witness. If you can bring out facts without being discourteous to thewitness or forceful, the jury will appreciate it; however, do not avoid being forceful if that is what it takes to reveal the truth. The skill is in knowing how to be forceful andnot offensive and how to maintain the right impression. Consider the following:1.The lawyer must prepare extensively to conduct effective cross-examination. All witness statements should be examined for inconsistencies andadmission that will corroborate the lawyer’s case. Any bias of a witness should beuncovered. For expert witnesses, it is important to discover authorities that maycontradict the authorities they relied on and to investigate the expert’s qualifications.2.Lawyers should never ask a question unless they are reasonably certainwhat the answer will be.3.Lawyers should expose any witness bias.4.Lawyers should not give witnesses the opportunity to re-emphasizedamaging points.

5.Lawyers should ask questions about incidents out of chronological order.6.Lawyers should try to elicit admissions that will make the witnesses’testimony seem improbable.7.Lawyers should take any hypothetical questions posed to an expert andinclude assumptions that are favorable to the lawyer’s client.8.Lawyers should know when to stop. They should not belabor cross-examination with irrelevancies.9.Ask a series of questions in cross-examination. Do not think of cross-examining as asking the witness questions, but rather as making statements of factfollowed by a few words that turn the statements into questions. For example, insteadof asking, at the beginning of a question, “Wouldn’t you agree,” or “Isn’t it true that,”make the statement and then at the end say, “Isn’t that true?” or “Don’t you agree?”with the question coming at the end.10.Do not write out cross-examination questions. Before cross-examinationsyou will have already deposed the adverse witness. Draw the cross-examinationquestions from the witnesses’ verbatim answers during the deposition indexed to thepage and line. Most of the questions consist of favorable answers testified to at thedeposition. If the witness disagrees with the question, it is simple to impeach him byreferring to deposition. This technique allows you to tightly control the examination.With answers that are particularly damaging to the witness, you may want to ask afurther question that will demonstrate the vulnerability or unreasonableness of thewitness.11.During cross-examination, look to the judge for help if you are havingdifficulty controlling the witness. If the witness is not being responsive, do not turn tothe judge to help you until you have tried to control the witness yourself. Be polite and